Title – Materialists (2025)

Director – Celine Song (Past Lives)

Cast – Dakota Johnson, Chris Evans, Pedro Pascal, Zoe Winters

Plot – New York based professional matchmaker Lucy (Johnson) starts to ask questions about her work and her love life when she begins to deal with the charming Harry (Pascal), old boyfriend John (Evans) and high maintenance client Sophie (Winters).

“I’m not asking for a miracle. I just want to love someone”

Review by Eddie on 08/10/2025

Returning for her sophomore directing/screenwriter outing following on from her adored 2023 breakout debut Past Lives, Celine Song has partnered with beloved indie studio A24 to release the star-studded Materialists, a film that may’ve been marketed as a somewhat generic dramatic rom-com but is anything but.

Following the New York based life of Dakota Johnson’s professional matchmaker Lucy and her dealings with Chris Evan’s one time flame John and Pedro Pascal’s charming potential forever partner Harry, on paper Materialists may seem to be nothing more than an as to be expected A-list affair but thanks to Song’s interesting script work, character development and beautifully considered direction, Materialists is more than the sum of its parts and an unexpectedly moving examination of life, love and learnings.

Featuring Johnson’s best turn since her surprisingly great performance in the little gem that was The Peanut Butter Falcon, Materialists finds Song working wonders once more with her main cast members as was the case with Past Lives core cast and while Johnson’s Lucy isn’t the most easy to warm too creation, her chemistry with both Evans and Pascal works wonders for the film that takes on a far more weighty tone than its promotional materials portrayed.

Those heading into Song’s film expecting light-hearted back and forwards or comedic hi-jinks equivalent to an early 2000’s J-Lo rom-com are guaranteed to be disappointed by Song’s approach to this space but her ability to provide some light hearted moments around the deeper and more serious-minded subject matters should be commended and its refreshing to watch a film of this ilk and not feel as though you can pinpoint its exact movements and outcomes from a mile off.

Not everything Song attempts to achieve in her high profile second feature film offering comes off the way she may have hoped for, a side plot involving one of Lucy’s clients Sophie (played by Succession actress Zoe Winters) one of the prime examples of this, but when all is said and done Materialists is a fine follow up from Song who has proven here that her debut work was no flash in the pan and that she should be regarded as one of the brightest new directional/writing talents to emerge in Hollywood over the post-Covid era.

Final Say –

An unexpectedly weighty feature from an exciting fresh talent, Materialists works wonders with its well-known cast and layered narrative, all while showcasing New York City in one of the more memorable big screen ways in some time.

4 incorrectly disposed items out of 5